Esprit SE Code 26....Great!

[AndyPG]

Hi All,

So, Code 26 has found me.

Trouble is, despite a lot of effort, I can't get Espritmon up and running so will have to attempt this manually, to start with.

My SE is running pretty good apart from hunting a little below 1500rpm and its not boosting well.

Starts hot and cold perfectly and idles well.

Linked terminals A/B on the ALDL socket and following code 12 (x3) I get code 26 (also repeats 3 times) then back to code 12.

Checked the resistance across the waste gate solenoid, 25.7 ohms

Checked the resistance across the secondary injector terminals, both 16.1 ohms.

Bearing in mind I haven't got Espritmon at the moment, hoping someone can suggest the best places to start.

Andy.

 

[Barrykearley]

12?. Now I’m confused - I thought the first code started at 13...

[Barrykearley]

It’s well worth upping your membership to ffm as I’m sure you get the workshop manuals...

 

[Barrykearley]

https://www.thelotusforums.com/freescan_manual.pdf

[Escape]

@Barrykearley, with the manual procedure it does start by flashing 12 3 times. 😉

Also, I've never found the Workshop manual on the site, only the parts list. I have a manual anyway, so haven't searched much. And the FFM is definitely worth it!

@AndyPG you should try and get Espritmon running, it really helps diagnosing stuff like this. Getting the software is easy, it's just the cable. Until you do, code 26 mainly points to failed continuity in relays etc. You haven't disturbed anything in the boot fuse panel have you?

Filip

[AndyPG]

1 hour ago, Escape said:

@AndyPG you should try and get Espritmon running, it really helps diagnosing stuff like this. Getting the software is easy, it's just the cable. Until you do, code 26 mainly points to failed continuity in relays etc. You haven't disturbed anything in the boot fuse panel have you?

Filip

Hi Filip,

I do have espritmon but despite many hours trying, I can't seem to get it going.

My laptop doesn't have a serial connector so I'm having to use a Prolific USB adapter and it's just not having it.

Tried doing the baudrate fixes discussed in the espritmon manual but no luck.

So, while I source a laptop with a serial port, I thought I'd try diagnosing the issue the manual way.

Andy.

[AndyPG]

Hi All,

Well, what a moment............I thought I had it.

Tested the RPM relay and the coil was open circuit.

Took the relay apart and found a cracked/parted solder joint on one of the coil ends.

You can imagine how I was feeling. I can't remember when I last felt this lucky.

I re-flowed both coil ends and the relay is now working perfectly. 60 ohms across the coil, same as all the other "same type" relays.

Reset the ECU and started her up. CEL goes out..............wahooo!!

Took her for a drive and the CEL comes back on as soon as I get rolling. (Code 26 still)

Came home and stopped the engine. Restarted 5mins later and CEL goes out again but comes back on as soon as I get rolling.

Oh, and when I insert the ALDL socket A/B link, the fans now run for the first time ever. Progress!

I'm hoping that the description above might narrow the field a little.

Andy.

[Barrykearley]

Just work through the rest of the flow charts I posted above - you’ll crack it 👍

[Escape]

Which relay are you talking about? I thought only the Bosch injection had the rpm relay, not the later Delco cars.

Are you sure Espritmon is set to the correct port for the serial to USB adapter? You can find the (current) port used in windows settings - devices.

Filip

[AndyPG]

Hi Filip,

In the engine bay relay box, top row, second relay from the left. ((in between rad fans control relay and the fuel pump relay)

Definitely got Espritmon looking at the correct port. I plug the USB adapter in and then go to devices. I note the port number that it is plugged into and then enter that in the Espritmon config file.

Andy.

[fjmuurling]

The  SE also has an RPM relay.

A lot of generic Serial USB converters don't like (will not work) with the 8192 ALDL baudrate despite the registery "hacks". 

A long time ago I bought an PCMCIA serial interface (more expensive) which works like a dream with the odd 8192 baudrate.

FYI if you use freescan (if you get the interface to work) it shows the right 26A and 26B errors but the descripstion are swapped. Espritmon is the way to go.

[Escape]

Right, my bad, forgot about the rpm relay for the oil pressure tell tale, I was focused on the engine management. 😉

[AndyPG]

17 hours ago, Barrykearley said:

Just work through the rest of the flow charts I posted above - you’ll crack it 👍

Thanks Barry,

Will do. All relay and solenoid coils checked ok. I'll start on the circuits now.

I'll also have a big push on getting Espritmon working.

Andy.

[Bibs]

https://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/usb-aldl-cable-for-freescan/

[AndyPG]

2 hours ago, Bibs said:

https://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/usb-aldl-cable-for-freescan/

Perfect, but....

Doesn't appear to be anyway of contacting the seller.

Andy.

[chipp]

Go back to the page and the contact details should be a bit lower down.

 

chipp

[fjmuurling]

Send a PM to @internets

[internets]

Hi @AndyPG,

Feel free to drop me a message although working away in Manchester this week but back in London Friday so should  be able to get a lead to you for the weekend if required, Royal Mail willing!

Thanks

 

[RobinB5]

@AndyPG, I bought a USB-ALDL cable from @internets , good service and got Espritmon up and running from a Win10 machine with only USB ports with no probs.

[AndyPG]

PM sent, thanks guys.

Andy.

[Jacques]

I second that of Robin. I also bought an aldl to usb cable from Internets, and it works perfectly on my Win10 laptop. I have to designate the correct port in win to suit. Then all works fine.

Kind regards,

jacques

[AndyPG]

Thanks guys, order placed.

Andy.

[AndyPG]

Hi All,

Well, I still haven't managed to get the ALDL to USB lead working but, it does look like I've sorted the code 26 with systematic manual checks.

I checked through all of the quad driver controlled relays, solenoids, connectors and circuits with my multi-meter.

I quickly found the faulty RPM relay and repaired a cracked solder joint inside. This RPM relay actually turned out to be the rad fan control relay.

Their positions in the engine bay relay enclosure had been swapped around. Both are quad driver controlled so no worries.

Everything else tested ok but, I decided to look at the secondary injector circuit in more detail.

I eventually found another broken solder joint inside the ballast resistor case. The balance resistor previously tested fine but I later found that the pressure on it's terminals from my multi-meter probes made the resister test ok. When the resistor was sat in its terminal block, it was open circuit.

I took the ballast resistor case apart and found one of the resister legs had a dry joint. I cleaned the joint up and re-soldered, hey presto, no more CEL.

Many thanks for everyone's help and especially to Derek for kindly loaning me an ECU along with lots of PM advice, and to Barry, for his EMH pages and motivational words, "You'll crack it👍"

So, I've been out in the SE all day driving around the Lincolnshire wolds in the sunshine.

CEL stayed off and the car ran flawlessly.

Cheers for now,

Andy.

[ragingfool35]

yeah i had similar code 26 experience where i eventually discovered the relays were not arranged per the illustration in the manual so the relays i replaced were not actually applicable to the error code.  good job

[AndyPG]

Thanks Chris,

If I were to write a layman's "how to" guide of solving code 26, first job is to label the quad driver controlled relays then check the wiring colours to make sure they are what you think they are.

Andy.